Mario Rigby Explorer

Today I had the chance to speak at Bayview Glen for Earth Day.

I spoke with students about adventure, sustainability, fear, failure, and what it means to live with purpose in a world that is changing fast.

What stood out most wasn’t just being on stage. It was the questions. The curiosity. The way these young people are already thinking about the planet, their future, and the kind of lives they want to build.

I wanted them to leave with one thing:

You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. You just need the courage to step beyond what feels comfortable.

The next generation will need more than information. They’ll need bravery, creativity, resilience, and a deeper connection to the world around them.

If even one student walked out today feeling more capable of doing something meaningful with their life, then the talk did what it was supposed to do.

Grateful for the opportunity to share my story, and even more grateful to be reminded why this work matters.

Step outside your comfort zone

Ottawa just delivered.” 🇨🇦 Scouts Canada in the field. Lunch + dinner at the British High Commission. Finally linking with . And none of it happens without putting me in the right rooms.

Episode 2 / 3
When It Gets Real

By now, the mountain had settled in.

Breathing was heavier. Sleep was light. Appetite came and went.

The routine became simple wake up, walk, hydrate, repeat.
Pole pole. Slow. Steady.

Altitude doesn’t announce itself. It just quietly demands more.

This is where excitement fades and discipline carries you.

Move with intention. Earn every step.

Day Zero to First Steps
Episode 1 / 3

This journey started in Moshi, with a briefing at Stella Maris Lodge, a place where guests directly support a local school through their stay. A reminder that where you choose to spend your money matters.

From there, we met our team with went through final checks, and drove to the Lemosho Gate to begin the climb.

The first days were about settling into rhythm. Moving slowly. Letting the mountain set the pace.

At the end of long hikes, when we reached camp, the porters gathered and sang together to reset after long days of hiking.

This climb was also preparation gathering real-world lessons for Beyond Human, a long-term expedition to reach the Seven Summits using only human power to get to each mountain.

That was the real beginning.

Onward.

I couldn’t afford to climb it in 2015. I’m going back today.

10 years ago, during my walk across Africa, I reached the foot of Kilimanjaro and had to walk past it. I didn’t have the funds. I climbed Mount Kenya instead.

Today, I’m flying back to Tanzania to finally summit. 🇹🇿

This is more than a climb; it’s a systems test for the expedition. I need to see how my body handles the altitude and refine my gear for the global circumnavigation ahead.

Grateful to be heading back to my rafikis in East Africa. Let’s get to work.

AdventureTravel

This past year was a process of distillation.

I let go of what no longer fit the people, patterns, and ideas I had outgrown. It wasn’t an act of bitterness, but one of clarity. In the space that remained, something better took root: momentum, perspective, and a deeper appreciation for life as it is, not just as I want it to be.

There were wins and there were hard lessons. Both were necessary. Every experience served to either sharpen my focus or soften my heart, reminding me why I choose this path: freedom, exploration, and absolute alignment with my mission to explore, empower, and evolve.

Looking back, I realize I haven’t just occupied time; I’ve been the recipient of a rare and wild inheritance. I have whole-heartedly lived an incredible life, gifted in the very gift of being here. I am grateful for the beautiful and the uncomfortable alike. They carried me here.

Looking ahead, 2026 feels different. is no longer just a map; it is alive. It’s pulling at me with the same quiet, undeniable gravity I felt before Africa a decade ago. That same knowing.

Time moves faster than we think. Don’t rush past the “now” to get to the “next.” This moment is the only one that’s real. To understand that is to understand life.

The next chapter starts now. Happy 2026 to my family, friends, and everyone who’s been part of the journey.